(Salt Lake City) – Beginning September 12, 2011, the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UICAA) rule will include additional language to protect people from tobacco smoke. The new language is in line with the intent of the UICAA statute that mandates the elimination of secondhand smoke exposure in indoor public places. The rule treats smoke from heated tobacco products like hookah the same as smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco.
“Secondhand tobacco smoke is known to cause cancer in humans,” said Steve Hadden of the Utah Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. “There is simply no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.”
With new tobacco products coming on the market, and growing concern from the public and businesses about tobacco smoke, the rule consistently eliminates secondhand smoke exposure in indoor public places Utahns patronize every day, such as health care settings, worksites, and restaurants that are already required to be smoke-free spaces according to the Act.
For free and confidential help quitting tobacco, call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1.800.QUIT.NOW (784-8669) or visit www.UtahQuitNet.com.
Media Contact
Steve Hadden
Health Program Specialist
Office: 801-538-6260
